Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: November 17, 2009

SUBJECT: Highways 404 & 407 Flyover Working Group

PREPARED BY: Brian Lee, Manager, Development Engineering and Transportation, Ext. 4838

RECOMMENDATION:

1) That the report entitled, “Highways 404 & 407 Flyover Working Group”, dated November 17, 2009, be received;

2) And that staff be authorized to participate in a Working Group with the Region of York and Town of Richmond Hill to develop a framework to protect, fund and construct mid-block crossings of Highway 404 and Highway 407;

3) Ant that the Working Group’s scope of work be expanded to include the Highway 404 interchange at 19^th Avenue;

4) And that Staff report back to Council on the findings and recommendations of the Working Group for consideration and approval;

5) And that the Regional Municipality of York and the Town of Richmond Hill be again informed of the Town of Markham Council’s decision to not support any flyover in the Cathedral Community immediately north of Major Mackenzie Drive;

6) And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial

5. Others (HR, Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council’s authorization for staff to participate in a Working Group to review issues related to the mid-block crossings of Highway 404 and Highway 407.

BACKGROUND:

On June 25, 2009, Regional staff brought forward a report regarding protection of Highways 404 and 407 mid-block crossings. Regional Council also adopted a recommendation which states:

“Regional Council request the Councils of Markham and Richmond Hill, direct their staff to participate in developing an implementation framework with Regional staff for the long term protection, funding, and construction of planned mid-block crossings of Highway 404 and Highway 407, and that Transportation Services staff report back to the appropriate Committee in the Fall of 2009 on the outcome of these discussions.”

On September 16, 2008, Markham Council also passed a resolution requesting the Region to commence planning of the Highway 404 interchange at 19^th Avenue with the Ministry of Transportation and Town’s of Richmond Hill and Markham.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The draft Regional Transportation Master Plan Update and draft Regional Official Plan confirmed the benefits of 400-series highway crossings as part of the overall transportation network, as they can assist in transit servicing, increase walking and cycling opportunities and create a finer grid road pattern reducing demands on arterial roads. The Region also recognizes that some of these crossings are not required in the short term but considers that it is prudent to protect these corridors for the longer term. The benefits of these crossings have to be balanced by the need to protect residential neighbourhoods and environmental impact, and have to be thoroughly examined under the Class Environmental Assessment process.

The Region has examined a number of options to continue to protect these corridors and decided that an implementation framework to establish the need and justification of the crossings, protection mechanism, funding and implementation with Markham and Richmond Hill is required. The Region’s Transportation Master Plan Update identified 5 mid-block crossings between Markham and Richmond Hill on Highway 404 and Highway 407. The status of each crossing is listed below.

The Region is aware that on March 4, 2008 Markham Council passed a resolution which includes:

“That the Town of Markham withdraw as a proponent of the Environmental Assessment for the Highway 404 Mid-Block Crossing between Major Mackenzie and Elgin Mills Roads and that the Region of York and the Town of Richmond Hill be advised that the Town no longer supports the Highway 404 Mid-Block Crossing.”

However, Regional Council endorsed Regional staff recommendation that this corridor should continue to be protected.

Markham Council has requested the Region to initiate the planning of the Highway 404 interchange at 19^th Avenue with the Province and Richmond Hill to support the long term growth of the Highway 404 North Employment Secondary Plan (OPA 149). This infrastructure is also identified in the draft Regional Official Plan. As the timing of the implementation of this interchange is related to the flyovers, the study of the interchange should be included.

	Crossing Location:	Hwy	Status
1.	Elgin Mills to 19^th Avenue	404	Feasibility Study completed by Markham’s Engineering Department, Class EA Study required to finalize such
2.	Major Mackenzie to Elgin Mills	404	Class EA undertaken by Markham’s Engineering Department has been suspended by Markham Council and Council no longer supports this crossing. Regional Council endorsed that this crossing is to be protected in the June 2009 report.
3.	16^th Avenue to Maj Mackenzie	404	Feasibility Study completed by Markham’s Engineering Department with Class EA study required to finalize such
4.	Hwy 7 to 16^th Avenue	404	EA approved, detailed design and property protection to commence December 2009
5.	Cedar Avenue	407	Underpass was constructed as part of Hwy 407 construction but approach roads are not designed. Identified as an important link by the Langstaff master plan
6.	19^th Avenue Interchange	404	Identified in 404 North Employment Business Park as needed in the long term

The purpose of the Working Group is to create a forum to continue dialogue between staff of the Region, Markham and Richmond Hill in examining the various Highways 404 and 407 crossing opportunities between Markham and Richmond Hill. The Working Group will develop an implementation review framework, establish responsibilities and commitment to plan for and implement crossings that balance the long term needs of the Region, Markham and Richmond Hill.

Engineering staff have been meeting with Region of York and Richmond Hill over the past two years on the Highway 7, 16^th Avenue and the Elgin Mills, Hwy 404 crossing and interchange improvement and are of the opinion that Markham should continue to participate in the Working Group. Markham staff will reaffirm in the upcoming Working Group sessions the position of Markham Council in opposition to any flyover in the Cathedral Community immediately north of Major Mackenzie Drive.

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

An overall finer grid road network provides better distribution of road traffic and supports additional transit routes. A finer grid offers more opportunities to cross a physical barrier such as a 400-series highway also provide shorter walking and cycling distance between communities. Even with multi billion investment in transit, population/employment forecast will require additional road capacity.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED BY:

________________________ ________________________

Alan Brown, C.E.T. Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director, Engineering Commissioner, Development Service

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